Who says studio monitors are "cold and analytical"?


Who says studio monitors are "cold and analytical"?  Does that mean audiophile speakers are warm/colored and distorted?   If Studio Monitors main goal is low distortion, does that mean low distortion is not something audiophiles want?  They want what, high distortion?  "Pretty" sounding distortion?  Or find pretty sounding speakers that make bad recordings sound really good?  What is the point of searching out good recordings then?  They won't sound as intended on a highly colored distorted speaker!   

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Showing 1 response by avanti1960

@lonemountain

studio monitors tend to sound accurate and analytical to most people. one of their design goals is to allow studio engineers to hear any flaws in the recording. some people like them for home use too. me personally i can take them in small doses but only with the right recordings, meaning well mastered and clean.  

home audio "audiophile" speakers are voiced to be pleasing to the listener and to avoid listening fatigue.

one way this is accomplished is by voicing to a sloped curve where the low frequencies begin at a certain output and then frequencies are gradually tapered downward by some degree, example 2db per octave, so that the response is flat, just tilted downward.

this is not done with distortion- it is done by tapering the response in the crossover design so that the output is a gradual slope. most people find some degree of elevated bass and slightly rolled of treble to be pleasing.

conversely a ruler flat and level response is found by most to be analytical.